nate in sweden exempted from nato after hungary's parliament allowed it to join the military alliance. will he continue to recognise taiwan? and up for sale, the letters by the love triangle of patty holroyd, eric clapton. live from studios in singapore. this is bbc news. it's newsday. welcome to the programme. let's begin with sweden that has been accepted as a member of the nato defence alliance. a move which germany's chancellor says it strengthens the security of europe and the world. the final obstacle was overcome when hungry�*s parliament finally ratified the move. the process started two years ago when russia's invasion of ukraine prompted sweden and neighbouring finland to apply tojoin.

non—alignment behind. this is a big step, we must take it seriously but it is also a very natural stab that we are taking. sweden will now become the organisation's 32nd member and all nato members are expected to help and which under attack. translation: this is the moment sweden has been waiting forfor almost is the moment sweden has been waiting for for almost two years. hungary's prime minister fits or is the closest european leader to vladimir putin. but under pressure from the us and other western countries, he paid the way for today's vital vote. , , . paid the way for today's vital vote. ,_, ,.,. vote. this is an historic day, it makes _ vote. this is an historic day, it makes nato _ vote. this is an historic day, it makes nato stronger, - vote. this is an historic day, it makes nato stronger, it i vote. this is an historic day, i it makes nato stronger, it that sweden safer and all those ago.

russia's full—scale invasion of ukraine is partly to prevent the expansion of nato but it had the opposite effect within finland first. now, sweden becoming nato members. further two centuries. _ becoming nato members. further two centuries, sweden _ becoming nato members. further two centuries, sweden had - becoming nato members. further two centuries, sweden had been i two centuries, sweden had been militarily neutral, but the war in ukraine turn public opinion around. ., ., , , ., around. the threat from russia has always _ around. the threat from russia has always been _ around. the threat from russia has always been real, - around. the threat from russia has always been real, very - has always been real, very close to website, we always be very vulnerable. it’s close to website, we always be very vulnerable.— very vulnerable. it's the right ath for very vulnerable. it's the right path for us- _ very vulnerable. it's the right path for us. in _ very vulnerable. it's the right path for us. in this _ very vulnerable. it's the right path for us. in this narrow, i path for us. in this narrow, its— path for us. in this narrow, it's better— path for us. in this narrow, it's better to be part of our lions — it's better to be part of our lions than independence. and neutrah — sweden will bring nato's modern air force — sweden will bring nato's modern air force and submarine specially adapted to the baltic sea _ specially adapted to the baltic sea it— specially adapted to the baltic sea. it gains a security umbrella but by nuclear deterrence.— umbrella but by nuclear deterrence. ~ , deterrence. the prime minister of sweden _ deterrence. the prime minister of sweden described _ deterrence. the prime minister of sweden described it - deterrence. the prime minister of sweden described it as - deterrence. the prime minister of sweden described it as an i historic day for his country.

from russia so far, silence. caroline hawley, bbc news. we've been speaking with retired us army lieutenant general douglas lute who represented the us to nato from 2013 to 2017. that's about time, it's taken way too long, first, totally, then hungary, than issues that have very little to do with nato or sweden as a member of nato, we are holding it out by trying —— both of them wanted was some sweet deal in the case of dokey it was, having new laws that deal with kurdish residents and in sweden and in case of hungary, it was a defence agreement that was signed off on friday they will provide some of those gripping fighters that you report it was talking about. to hungary. so, they got what they want to buy finally, we got sweden into nato and as i said, about time. what is it me for nato to have sweden as a member and what it into sweden as well? is a really big _ into sweden as well? is a really big deal— into sweden as well? is a really big deal for- into sweden as well? is —. really big deal for nader really big dealfor nader particularly if you also

include finland, by the plight of the same time and one of whom and did much quicker than sweden did. to that three big things happen, one, it is now bringing nato closer to russia's border, their war with ukraine was extensively studied to perfect —— prevent nato from coming closer to the body in one way, you bring nato closer is you start attacking other countries and invading them. secondly, in botany, the baltic sea is now a nato lake. every country that is part of the baltic sea, except russia, it is now a member of nato bringing it difficult especially in wartime to be used and finally, the artic. which is a point of a greater sojic interest of all countries, all countries except russia again, on now members of nato. and, finally, bringing

finland and sweden to military powers into alliance will help that alliance to deter because that alliance to deter because that ultimately they wore on the european continent. imilli the european continent. will this have — the european continent. will this have any _ the european continent. will this have any direct - the european continent. will this have any direct impact on the war in ukraine?— this have any direct impact on the war in ukraine? they won't have a direct — the war in ukraine? they won't have a direct impact, - the war in ukraine? they won't have a direct impact, it - the war in ukraine? they won't have a direct impact, it will. have a direct impact, it will have a direct impact, it will have an impact on making it even less likely that the water spreads to nato territory and set an example to the russians that if you misbehave with the way that they have, countries will want to become part of nato and no doubt, one of the things that is clear would like to be the 33rd member of nato and that wasn't the case that before the invasion, it is the case now, the a0 invasion, listen to the percent of ukraine is onejoin nato, today, the number is 90% and we can understand why when you're a member of nato, you're unlikely to be attacked and unfortunately, when you live next to russia, if you're not a member of nato, you are likely to be attacked.—

member of nato, you are likely to be attacked. where does that leave ukraine _ to be attacked. where does that leave ukraine with _ to be attacked. where does that leave ukraine with it _ to be attacked. where does that leave ukraine with it on - leave ukraine with it on ambitions tojoin nato? i leave ukraine with it on ambitions to join nato? ambitions to 'oin nato? i think we will ambitions to 'oin nato? i think we win — ambitions to join nato? i think we will see some _ ambitions to join nato? i think we will see some progress - ambitions to join nato? i think we will see some progress for| we will see some progress for ukraine tojoin nato we will see some progress for ukraine to join nato at the washington summit injuly, washington summit in july, there washington summit injuly, there is no agreement among the nato ally to bring the light thatis nato ally to bring the light that is in war with the alliance because doing so, will make nato as a whole, potted to that war and that's one thing that war and that's one thing that nato has tried to avoid but clearly, a signal being sent to ukraine they want the fighting is over, there is a durable ceasefire and is this, doesn't have to be a peace agreement, it should be no fighting that at that time bringing this ukrainian into nato is something that not on the ukrainian. at, nato is something that not on the ukrainian.— the ukrainian. a short while auo, the ukrainian. a short while aao, us the ukrainian. a short while ago, us president - the ukrainian. a short while ago, us president joe - the ukrainian. a short while i ago, us president joe biden ago, us presidentjoe biden said he hopes a ceasefire in gaza could start by the beginning of next week. negotiators are seeking a whole to the fighting and the release of his hostages held in gaza. this is what he said to reporters. this is what he said to reporters—

this is what he said to reorters. g . ,. , reporters. my nice security vibes tells _ reporters. my nice security vibes tells me _ reporters. my nice security vibes tells me that - reporters. my nice security vibes tells me that we - reporters. my nice security vibes tells me that we are | vibes tells me that we are close, we are close, we're not done yet. my hope is that by next monday, we will have a ceasefire. next monday, we will have a ceasefire-— ceasefire. those comments follow strong _ ceasefire. those comments follow strong words - ceasefire. those comments follow strong words of - ceasefire. those comments follow strong words of the l ceasefire. those comments - follow strong words of the head of united nations and antonio guterres said nothing justified what he called the collective punishment of the palestinian people in gaza. he accused member states of turning a blind eye to international law. the military prison at the war cabinet with a plan for the evacuation of palestinian civilians from rafah. the us is what israel that an event in proper planning will be a disaster. with more on that, here is the diplomatic correspondence. we know, said today was that the israeli military has presented this plan through the covenant. there will consist of two parts, one, will be the evacuation above in excess of vermilion as a i.a million people from rafah ahead of any ground operation and then the operation itself. in other i

was mirror while we saw in gaza city, in ghana eunice wet as a failure to ground operation, the israeli attempted to tell people to leave in some cases points at the root so they should take and direct a neighbourhood to leave in certain directions. none of that has started to appear, or that has started to appear, or that presumably will be but at the moment, we don't see any sign of a plan being implemented and my hunches and it is only a hunch that an operation to take rafah is still potentially weeks and weeks away because you gotta remember, other intensive negotiations going on designed to bring about a ceasefire, the american wants to see that in place before the start of ramadan which is just under two weeks' time, i think there is a growing suggestion that we might see that before we see an

assault on rafah and prime minister benjamin netanyahu is hinted at the possibility yesterday. the pacific nation after violet is one of the 12 countries to recognise as taiwan. most governments instead have official ties of the people's republic of china in beijing. would insist that taiwan belongs to china. but now, they have a new prime minister and has been speculation and the concern that it may switch its allegiance, just like they did last month should taiwan be a concern? earlier, ispoke last month should taiwan be a concern? earlier, i spoke to the ambassador to tuvalu, i asked him what he and duvall�*s new prime minister discussed in a recent talk. {iii new prime minister discussed in a recent talk.— a recent talk. of course, he assured _ a recent talk. of course, he assured me _ a recent talk. of course, he assured me that _ a recent talk. of course, he assured me that the - a recent talk. of course, he l assured me that the relations between taiwan and the wallu remains as solid and robust and continues to grow. aretha; remains as solid and robust and continues to grow.— continues to grow. why do you think there _ continues to grow. why do you think there was _ continues to grow. why do you think there was a _ continues to grow. why do you think there was a big _ continues to grow. why do you think there was a big collision l think there was a big collision in the first place that tuvalu might switch the allegiance to

beijing? i might switch the allegiance to bei'ina ? ~ . �*, beijing? ithink that, it's really discouraging - beijing? ithinkthat, it's i really discouraging because when speculation aroused during tuvalu's action and we believe that there is someone as a political motivated and calculated to many relate those at this information to undermine orfunction at this information to undermine or function but to see is to believe. a very certain that i just see is to believe. a very certain that ijust mentioned that the relations between taiwan and tuvalu remains a solid, robust and continues to grow. solid, robust and continues to crow. ., solid, robust and continues to wow, ., ., , ., solid, robust and continues to irow, ., ., , ., grow. you only have three diplomatic— grow. you only have three diplomatic allies - grow. you only have three diplomatic allies in - grow. you only have three diplomatic allies in the - diplomatic allies in the pacific, nairo is the latest recognise the commonest government in beijing, how can you go about the situation? {iii you go about the situation? of course, we have great concerns over these issues because you know, the allies in the pacific

are very important to us. for their recognition, taiwan is a sovereign state and also, there are weather supported with time once participation and for that reason, the corporation without allied in the pacific has set “p allied in the pacific has set up a good crowd as an example which demonstrate that it is viable by doing so to prevent authoritarian expansionism from penetrating into pacific and to promote original piece, stability and prosperity. you are one of — stability and prosperity. you are one of only _ stability and prosperity. you are one of only a _ stability and prosperity. you are one of only a handful of official ambassadors in the world, how do you go about persuading countries to stay on your side given the huge financial and political incentives that china can offer compared to taiwan? i incentives that china can offer compared to taiwan?- compared to taiwan? i think that they — compared to taiwan? i think

that they are _ compared to taiwan? i think that they are well, - compared to taiwan? i think that they are well, i - compared to taiwan? i think that they are well, i will- that they are well, i will actually —— share with you that my experience in tuvalu, that based on those on a wide range of substances corporation, we have done in tuvalu.— of substances corporation, we have done in tuvalu. around the world and _ have done in tuvalu. around the world and across _ have done in tuvalu. around the world and across the _ have done in tuvalu. around the world and across the uk, - have done in tuvalu. around the world and across the uk, this i world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at some other stories in the uk now, the former deputy chair of the conservative party has refused to apologise after comments that many have taken as is limit phobic, he was suspended from his party on friday after claiming that london mayor was under the control of his limits. he was speaking in reference to the numerous pro—palestinian rallies that have taken place across london in recent months. but its prime ministers at the comments were wrong and unacceptable but stopped short of describing them as islamophobia.- of describing them as islamophobia. of describing them as islamohobia. �* , , islamophobia. i've been very clear dark — islamophobia. i've been very clear dark what _ islamophobia. i've been very clear dark what he _ islamophobia. i've been very clear dark what he said - islamophobia. i've been very clear dark what he said was i clear dark what he said was wrong and unacceptable and that is why we suspended them and it's important to anybody,

particularly elected politicians are careful with their words and do not inflame tension. . . tension. labour leader keir starmer — tension. labour leader keir starmer took _ tension. labour leader keir starmer took issue - tension. labour leader keir starmer took issue with - tension. labour leader keirl starmer took issue with that response saying that mr sunak lacked the backbone to call out islamophobia and of the prime minister is too weak, the controversy has revived the broader questions about islamophobia within the conservative ranks. 2019, the biological inquiry into how it handles discrimination claims. you are live with bbc news. when alabama supreme court defined frozen embryos as children last week, the shock and confusion was immediate, many fertility clinics have paused to treatment over fears that they could be prosecuted. while the ruling doesn't ban ivf, a greater conviction but also division among christian groups in the conservative state that is already banned abortion. i state that is already banned abortion. ~ �* state that is already banned abortion. ~' �* ., ., abortion. i think i'm going to et abortion. i think i'm going to get teary- — abortion. i think i'm going to get teary- for _ abortion. i think i'm going to get teary. for margaret, - abortion. i think i'm going to get teary. for margaret, the | get teary. for margaret, the olitics get teary. for margaret, the politics has _ get teary. for margaret, the politics has become - get teary. for margaret, the l politics has become personal.

this ruling should not add anxiety on to something that already just so anxiety on to something that alreadyjust so high and anxiety in inducing and just so taxing. she and her husband have a young son and want to build theirfamily. they have a young son and want to build their family. they turned ivf and was days away from her first appointment. margaret described herself as pro life but finds the woolly difficult cyber and. the chiefjustice is the bible to justify his reasoning on my frozen embryos are children. some anti—abortion groups celebrated, describing as a pro life went. i celebrated, describing as a pro life went. ., �* ~ . life went. i don't think that anything — life went. i don't think that anything more _ life went. i don't think that anything more pro - life went. i don't think that anything more pro life - life went. i don't think that| anything more pro life than couples who are doing everything in our power, everything in our power, everything in our power, everything in the control and the doctors are doing everything in our power to control to try and create a new life. nobody understands more than embryo is not a child more than embryo is not a child more than the present that is yearning for that. that and we are to be a child. the alabama sabfina are to be a child. the alabama sabrina court _ are to be a child. the alabama sabrina court ruled _ are to be a child. the alabama sabrina court ruled that - are to be a child. the alabama sabrina court ruled that an - sabrina court ruled that an existing law in a state wrongful death of a minor cover

is notjust wrongful death of a minor cover is not just foetuses wrongful death of a minor cover is notjust foetuses in the womb but embryos held in a lab or storage facility as well. each of these tanks has stored eggs and sperm and embryos... dr beth malizia is co—founder of alabama fertility. like many clinics, they've paused new treatments while they get legal clarity. we are doing all of our usual routine things. we have a hold on a couple of things that we are holding in the laboratory for patient and embryo safety, but we are here to stay and we are going to fight this. in the days after alabama's supreme court ruling, there was huge reaction from politicians across the country. but it is local lawmakers here who are under pressure to come up with a solution. republicans in alabama plan to introduce a bill to protect ivf, but it is tricky. they cannot alienate those who support the ruling and those who are disturbed by it. we are going to find a fix. you know?

just don't about it and... or worry about it as little as you can because we are going to find an answer. hopefully clinics will be open soon and you can get back to your normal infertility issues, instead of worrying about access. has the intervention by former president donald trump put pressure on you? no, or anybody else. i mean, biden came out, hayley has come out. let's just get it right. democrats, in the minority here, sensed an opportunity, but also danger. there are other countries and other places that consider themselves to be extremely conservative and they could follow suit. we want to make sure we are getting ahead of that and righting the wrong here in alabama, ground zero. this is ground zero right now. first it was abortion and now this ruling has opened a new battle front in reproductive rights. republicans want to minimise the controversy, democrats want to tie them to it. nomia iqbal, bbc news, alabama. police in pakistan have

recommended wearing a dress with arabic calligraphy when she was mistaken for the koran. she was saved after police escorted her to safety. this is the moment the police officer spoke to the angry mob. i have a self to as _ spoke to the angry mob. i have a self to as a _ spoke to the angry mob. i have a self to as a police _ spoke to the angry mob. i have a self to as a police officer - a self to as a police officer for a year now and no one has had any complaints. i have dealt with three cases like this and you should trust me now. ., , this and you should trust me now. . , ., now. let me handle this. later, after things _ now. let me handle this. later, after things come _ now. let me handle this. later, after things come down, - now. let me handle this. later, after things come down, the - after things come down, the police officer described what happened to the bbc.- police officer described what happened to the bbc. there is i was a potential— happened to the bbc. there is i was a potential possibility - was a potential possibility when you are looking at a crowd of a mob that's been charged because they are drives that cloud because you cannot actually have the responsibility on a particular person so when the mob is the one which has taken the responsibility and is a collective responsibility, who are you going to charge after the incident has taken place? so, we realised how bad it was

getting, when there was nearby, it was on and i thought that the potential think that the frustrated crowd would do is to put fire and to set fire to the cafe so we had to earn matter what there is, we had tojust get it out of the particular situation there and then. and then, we realise the extent of how red garden and when you've got in the cart.

he said he would be complicit in genocide. the figure has been increased ljy the figure has been increased by more than 100,000 a day in interest sips this month's ruling. mrtrump was interest sips this month's ruling. mr trump was found to have inflated property values to obtain better loan terms. us censors have raised the age rating for mary poppins. it includes discriminatory language. it now advises

parents to consider if the film's content would upset young or more sensitive children. the us supreme court has heard arguments in two landmark social media cases that could have big implications for freedom of speech online. at issue are laws passed in florida and texas that ban online platforms like facebook, youtube and tiktok from removing or demoting user content. both states argue the legislation is necessary to prevent censorship of conservative users. but opponents say the law infringes on the platforms' own first amendment rights. well, this is one of those landmark supreme court cases with potentially huge implications for america, socially, politically, and economically. the two laws brought forward by the states of florida and texas are

designed, according to the republican politicians who supported them, to correct what they see as a kind of silicon valley liberal—leaning bias on text platforms. they point to the deplatforming of donald trump after the january 6 storming of the us capitol and the attempts to regulate political speech more widely. the laws would curtail or at least severely limit the ability of tech platforms to continue to police content in that way. at the heart of the arguments in front of the supreme court this morning was a simple question — what are social media platforms anyway? are they, like newspapers, free to decide what does and doesn't go on their pages, or are they more akin to telecommunications companies, with thejob more akin to telecommunications companies, with the job simply of connecting speakers to listeners, to posters, to the consumers of those posts. the lawyers for the social media company say if they are merely

the latter, if they have no ed tomorrow rights to control what —— ed tomorrow rights to go on what those —— editorial rights on what goes on the pages, it would descend into misinformation and extremism. the lawyers for texas and florida for the social media companies to have a free speech right of control themselves is a kind of cloak they can deny the free speech rights of the users they disagree with. it's very difficult of course to pre—empt a supreme court decision. but, if the court recognised there were some difficulties with allowing big corporations this power to control what does and doesn't go online, there's some sympathy, many observers felt, for the view that giving that power instead to state governments, like texas and florida, orto governments, like texas and florida, or to national governments, would be even more problematic. that really would be a challenge to the principle

of free speech. either way, a decision is expected byjune. next, one of the most famous love triangles in pop history. the model pattie boyd and rock legends george harrison and err rick —— eric clapton. she was the music inspiration for something and clapton's hits wonderful tonight and layla. george harrison and pattie boyd — they were one of the �*60s couples. i started working when i was about 17, 18 as a fashion model. then one day, my agent phoned and said that i'd got a part in the beatles film. and it was on the set of a hard day's night that she met george harrison. and now the letters and objects that tell the story of their relationship and the subsequent love

triangle with eric clapton are going up for sale — items such as this handwritten note. and here's this letter, with the tiniest writing imaginable... addressed to "dearest l", it was from eric clapton, laying bare his feelings, and l stood for the name he chose for her — layla. but it's notjust letters. this painting, which will go on public display on march the 15th, is also part of the story. what are we looking at? we are looking at layla. this is layla ? this is layla, the original artwork used for the cover of derek and the dominos' layla and other assorted love songs. and it's notjust the painting. it's the fact that we have the letters... that we have the letters — "dear layla," "dear l," that is eric clapton declaring his love for layla. she shows it to george... she shows this letter to george harrison? she shows this letter to george harrison because she doesn't

know who it's from. she says, "look at this weird fan letter i've got," not knowing that it was from eric clapton. wonderfultonight, layla, something — the songs inspired by this love triangle. these letters are more than just keepsakes. this is rock history. david sillito, bbc news. # you look wonderful tonight... we end with japan's moon lander that survived the harsh lunar night, the sunless and freezing equivalent to two earth weeks. the national space agency said there was a command sent to the lander and a response received back, and then it was put into sleep mode after an awkward landing injanuary sleep mode after an awkward landing in january found sleep mode after an awkward landing injanuary found its solar panels facing the wrong way and unable to generate power. that's it for now. stay with bbc news. hello there. it does look like the rest of this week will remain very changeable. things are set to turn a bit more unsettled now for the next few days. we've got this first

frontal system, one of many, pushing its way southwards and eastwards during the course of tuesday. so a wet and windy start across scotland, northern ireland, some snow on the hills briefly. england and wales starts cold and frosty, some mist and fog, some early brightness, but the cloud will build as this front pushes southwards and eastwards. as it weakens, there will be barely anything on it. but brightening up for scotland and northern ireland through the afternoon with sunny spells, scattered, blustery showers, these wintry on the hills. winds will be quite a feature in the north and the west, lighter winds further south and east, so we've lost that cold, raw feel that we had on monday across southern and eastern areas. temperature—wise, i think around 6—9 celsius. now, as we head through tuesday night, that weather front clears away from southern areas. it turns drier with clearer skies, light winds, so another chilly night to come across central and eastern areas. but the next frontal system will be working to the west later on. but a chilly start to wednesday, some areas of frost and fog likely.

but for the middle part of the week, things will turn a bit milder across the whole country, but wetter and windier with it. now, the milder air will be in this wedge between the warm and the cold front, but it will bring stronger winds and outbreaks of rain as it pushes across the country during the course of wednesday. so this is how wednesday starts — chilly, early brightness, a bit of mist and fog. the clouds build up, the rain and the wind splash their way northwards and eastward through the course of the day, with those temperatures beginning to lift somewhat, particularly across southern and western areas. so we're looking at around 10 to maybe 13 degrees for wednesday afternoon. it doesn't last, though, because cooler air will be moving in behind this area of low pressure. thursday, the last day of february, looks unsettled, very blustery across the northern half of the country. weather fronts across england and wales will bring outbreaks of rain. scotland and northern ireland seeing the brightest of the conditions, with lots of showers here, but they will be turning increasingly wintry as things turn cooler in the north and the west,

the last of the double figures across the southeast. and then as we head into the first four days of march, things remain unsettled with low pressure nearby. we'll see showers or longer spells of rain, there will be some sunshine around, but it will be chilly both by day and by night.

the us supreme court considers a case that could change how

social media firms moderate content online. and with artificial intelligence set to disrupt jobs, companies are now turning to retraining workers. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. the us supreme court heard arguments in two cases today which could change the way america regulates social media. at issue are laws in texas and florida that put restrictions on how platforms like facebook, youtube and x look at material. what can people say here or read online? over several hours, justices from america's highest court questioned aspects of legislation passed in florida and texas that limits what social media plait formats can do to moderate content. these laws were introduced after the siege of the capitol on january introduced after the siege of the capitol onjanuary 6 which

led to former president donald trump being removed